The life of our beloved Holy Prophet (peace be upon him)

1. The life of our beloved Holy Prophet (peace be upon him)

2. Abu Lahab & His Wife • When Surah Lahab was revealed, condemning Abu Lahab and his wife, they became even more furious and made the opposition of the Holy Prophet as their life-long passion. • When Holy Prophet would go to any group of people to teach them about Islam, Abu Lahab would follow and shout from behind: • ‘Don’t listen to him. His is a liar. He wants to turn you away from the religion of your forefathers.’

3. Abu Lahab & His Wife • Abu Lahab’s wife was also a staunch enemy of Islam. • When Surah Lahab was revealed, she became even more upset and wanted to hurt Holy Prophet. • Once she got a stone and came looking for the Holy Prophet near the Ka’abah. • Holy Prophet was sitting near the Ka’abah with Hadrat Abu Bakar. • When Abu Bakar saw her coming, he knew that she wanted to insult and hurt the Holy Prophet. • He kindly asked the Holy Prophet that they should leave so Abu Lahab’s wife could not find them. • Hadrat Abu Bakar did not want anyone to disrespect the Holy Prophet, so he wanted to avoid Abu Lahab’s wife.

4. Abu Lahab & His Wife • Holy Prophet said to Abu Bakar: ‘Don’t worry. She will not be able to see me.’ • When Abu Lahab’s wife came nearer, she started talking to Abu Bakar. • She said: • ‘Abu Bakar, why has your friend insulted me [referring to the surah Lahab]. • Why has he said poems about me [the Makkans used to call the Holy Quran as poetry].’ • Then she went away without saying anything to the Holy Prophet, because she could not see him.

5. Abu Lahab & His Wife • Hadrat Abu Bakar was surprised that she could not see the Holy Prophet. • So he asked him. Holy Prophet said: ‘An angel had covered me with his wings. Thus, she could not see me.’ • Initially, Holy Prophet’s two daughters were going to marry the two sons of Abu Lahab. • But because of his enmity for Islam, Abu Lahab broke these marriages. • In this way, he wanted to hurt Holy Prophet.

6. Makkans and Hadrat Abu Talib • Makkans were becoming extremely worried regarding the spreading of Islam. • They feared that if they do not do anything to stop it, the whole Makkah city would convert to Islam and the chiefs of Makkah would lose their positions. • Before they carried out any physical actions, they decided to talk with Hadrat Abu Talib to persuade Holy Prophet to stop his activities.

7. Makkans and Hadrat Abu Talib • A group of Makkan chiefs, including Abu Jahal, Abu Sufyan, Waleed bin Mughyrah and Aas bin Wayl, came to see Hadrat Abu Talib. • They said to him: • ‘Your nephew calls bad things about our gods and religion. • He calls us and our forefathers misguided people. • You should stop him or take your protection away. Then we can deal with him ourselves.’ • Hadrat Abu Talib was a wise person. • He knew the Makkan chiefs were angry so he talked to them and calmed them down. • He assured them he would talk to the Holy Prophet. • But Hadrat Abu Talib loved Holy Prophet and did not want to stop him. • So he did not say anything to him.

8. Makkans and Hadrat Abu Talib • When the Makkan chiefs realised that Hadrat Abu Talib has not done anything, they came to see him again. • This time they were more direct. • They said: • ‘O Abu Talib, you have the highest status and most respected in Makkah. • We came to see you and requested that you stop your nephew. • But we have realised that you have not fulfilled your promise. • We cannot wait anymore. He makes fun of our gods and finds faults in us. • Either you stop him or we will start a fight against both of you. • And this fight will continue until one of us is destroyed.’ • The chiefs left without listening to any reply from Abu Talib

9. Makkans and Hadrat Abu Talib • Hadrat Abu Talib realised that the other chiefs were in a very angry mood and they were not willing to listen to excuses anymore. • Hadrat Abu Talib was a very old man and did not want to make others his enemies. • Yet, he also did not want to abandon Holy Prophet. • He called Holy Prophet and informed him what the Makkan chiefs had said. • The Hadrat Abu Talib humbly requested to Holy Prophet: • ‘O my dear nephew, be considerate of me and yourself. • Don’t put so much burden on me that I am unable to bear it.’

10. Makkans and Hadrat Abu Talib • Holy Prophet did not want to trouble his caring uncle yet he must also fulfil his duties of prophethood. • He gave a very determined answer to his uncle. • He said: • ‘O my dear uncle, • if these people put the sun on my right hand • and the moon on my left hand • and expect me to stop inviting people to the guided religion, then this is their wishful thinking. • I will not stop preaching Islam until Allah Almighty spreads Islam in the land or I am perished.’

11. Makkans and Hadrat Abu Talib • After listening to this reply, which was full of determination, it strengthened Abu Talib’s love for the Holy Prophet. • He became ever more determined to protect Holy Prophet. • He said to the Holy Prophet: • ‘Do whatever you think is right. • I will never hand you over to the Makkans.’ • Hadrat Abu Talib spoke with his other brothers [other uncles of the Holy Prophet]. • All the uncles, except Abu Lahab, pledged to give their full support to the Holy Prophet.

12. Holy Prophet and Makkans • Makkans realised that Hadrat Abu Talib was not prepared to stop Holy Prophet, nor he was willing to take his protection away. • They decided to talk directly with the Holy Prophet. • Makkans thought among themselves why Holy Prophet was stopping people from worshiping idols. • The only reason they could think of was that perhaps Holy Prophet desires for wealth or kingship. • They thought that if they offer these worldly things to the Holy Prophet, he may stop preaching Islam.

13. Holy Prophet and Makkans • They called for the Holy Prophet and put their offer to him. • They said: • ‘You have divided the people of Makkah. • You find faults in our gods and call us stupid. • If you are doing all this to become wealthy, then we can collect wealth and give it to you, if you promise to stop causing more trouble. • If your intention is to become the chief of Makkah, then we are willing to accept you as our chief. • If you want to become our king, we can also make you our king.’

14. Holy Prophet and Makkans • When they had finished making their offer, Holy Prophet replied: • ‘These things are nothing for me. • I don’t wish to gather wealth, nor want to become your chief or a king. • Allah Almighty has sent me as a prophet to you. • I receive His revelation. • I have been asked to inform you about the kindness of Allah and his punishment. • Whomsoever will accept Islam, will attain success in this life and in the hereafter. • If you reject this message then I will be patient and let Allah decide about you.

15. Holy Prophet and Makkans • Having no luck with their offers, the Makkans started making strange requests from the Holy Prophet. • They asked Holy Prophet that: • ‘if you are a prophet of Allah then why don’t you ask Allah to start lakes and rivers in Makkah. • We always have difficulty in finding water. So if you start a new river in Makkah, that will make our life easier. • Also remove these mountains so we can have a wider city.’

16. Holy Prophet and Makkans • Holy Prophet said I have not been sent to carry out these actions. • I have been sent to guide you and not to fulfil your requests. • Then they said: ‘if you don’t want to do something for us, at least ask Allah that He gives you wealth and bodyguards and big palaces so you could have an easier life.’ • Again, the Holy Prophet replied: ‘I don’t ask Allah for these petty things.’

17. Holy Prophet and Makkans • Second time, the Makkans made even stranger offer. • They came to Holy Prophet and said: • ‘For a year, worship our idols with us. • The next year, we will worship your god. • In this way we can avoid a fight among ourselves. • Also, when you worship our gods for a year, you will learn about them. • Similarly, when we worship your God, and if that is the correct religion, we might convert to Islam. • So we can both gain from this offer.’ • Holy Prophet said I will ask Allah regarding this offer. Then afterwards, angel Gabriel came with the surah Kafiroon.

18. Holy Prophet and Makkans • 1. Say (O Muhammad (Sal-Allaahu 'alayhe Wa Sallam) to These un-believers): "O the believers • 2. "I Worship not that which You worship, • 3. "Nor will You Worship that which I worship. • 4. "And I shall not Worship that which You are worshipping. • 5. "Nor will You Worship that which I worship. • 6. "To You be Your religion, and to Me My Religion (Islâmic Monotheism)."

19. Why Holy Prophet did not fulfil their requests? • Makkans had asked for evidence and miracles of his prophethood. • It was not difficult for Allah Almighty to start new rivers in Makkah and remove the mountains. • Allah could also give mountains of gold to Holy Prophet for his personal use. • So why did not Holy Prophet ask for these things from Allah. • If Allah had fulfilled these requests, then perhaps Makkans could accept Islam. • So why did not Holy Prophet accept these offers?

20. Why Holy Prophet did not fulfil their requests? • The Makkans did not make these requests for the sake of finding the truth. • Because their real intentions were not to seek the truth, Holy Prophet did not fulfil their requests.

21. Why Holy Prophet did not fulfil their requests? • This is the reason, the Holy Quran says: • And even if we had sent down unto them angels, and the dead had spoken unto them, and we had gathered together All things before their very eyes, they would not have believed, unless Allâh willed, but Most of them behave ignorantly. [Surah al-Anam, v.111]

22. Why Holy Prophet did not fulfil their requests? • The Holy Prophet had already performed other miracles. • If the Makkans really wanted to believe, they already would have believed. • New miracles were not going to make a difference.

23. Why Holy Prophet did not fulfil their requests? • The main reason for not fulfilling their requests was that if Holy Prophet had performed miracles on their request and they still did not believe after witnessing those miracles, then it would have devastating consequences for the people. • Before Islam, if any nation had asked their prophets to perform miracles as his evidence of prophethood and after witnessing those miracles being performed, they still did not believe in the prophets, then the punishment of Allah would descend on them and the whole nations would be destroyed.

24. Why Holy Prophet did not fulfil their requests? • As Holy Prophet knew the Makkans would not believe after seeing his miracles, he did not want the anger of Allah to befall on Makkans. • As the Holy Prophet has been sent as a ‘Mercy’ to all the worlds, he did not want Allah to punish the Makkans. • Thus, he did not perform miracles on their requests.